Possible Scam???

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 15 Nov 2010 Posts: 2

Hello...I came across this site while searching for a possible scam info.

My problem:

I have a boat for sale. A guy with an accent called to look at the boat today and drove here over an hour to look at it. I am in NJ. He called using a cell phone. He was very interested and is supposed to come back tomorrow for a test ride with his partner. He says he's going to ship it to South Africa and use it there as a work boat Confused

There was no email correspondence and he was concerned about the price, trying to get me to lower my asking price- never offering more than I am asking. The whole thing sounds shady Shocked

I know from a previous scam attempt that a certified check takes about 14 days to actually clear. I am really leery about any transaction, not to mention he knows where I live and the boat's location. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much Razz

insults and more · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:26 am

Since he knows your personal details, do not bait or otherwise antagonize him.

Have you googled around for his name, etc? Perhaps he is a known scammer.

If it is a scam, one thing to watch out for is the overfunded check. He'd give you a check for, say, $1,000 more than the amount of the boat, and ask you to refund the surplus. Then he disappears with the boat and the grand, and you're left in the shit with flash money which will disappear and cause the bank and police to come down on you.

Perhaps getting an escrow service involved would ease your doubts and make the deal secure. If he flinches at the idea, then it may be a sign he was planning on ripping you off.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:57 am

It is a plus the person came to look at the vessel/boat in person.

I would have to know alot of details about the boat to go where I think he is going with regards to exporting the vessel/boat to South Africa.

The main thing is to avoid accepting any payment from credit/debit card or a check with an excess amount. If a check is presented for the correct amount, I would verify with the bank (make sure it is a U.S. bank for even better protection) that the check is good as well as verify the buyer is indeed the account holder. You have that right and should not fear exercising it.

I am not sure of your State's (assuming you're in the U.S.) laws regarding vessel/boat registration, but if the sale goes over in a positive light I woudl ensure the vessel/boat is registered in the buyer's name before it leaves the country.

You may also, for peace of mind choose to contact your local police to talk to someone regarding the situtation. They may be helpful as well.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:17 am

Hi helpmeplease

Quote:

He says he's going to ship it to South Africa and use it there as a work boat

Could the boat be used in that capacity? If its unlikely I'd say this is some sort of scam

Quote:

A guy with an accent called to look at the boat today and drove here over an hour to look at it.

I've never known a lad to view anything he's "buying" so thats a good pointer. However it doesn't mean you are not dealing with a local fraudster.

Quote:

he was concerned about the price, trying to get me to lower my asking price- never offering more than I am asking

Never known a lag to haggle either Rolling Eyes

You may take up leonsumbitches suggestion re the use of an escrow service- but beware because there are a lot of fake escrow websites out there. I have never used an escrow service ( unheard of here in the UK) but escrow.com are probably the largest legit escrow site out there.

If the guy comes back get his licence plate, if he wants to pay be check make sure you get it properly checked by your bank etc

Good luck

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 15 Nov 2010 Posts: 2

Thank you all for the replies. The only concern I have is that the vessel would be shipped out of the country. Say he presented a cashiers check today, and wanted to take vessel within a few days, then I find out the check is not good and he has my boat- somewhere in South Africa!

However, I always try to err on the side of caution and if he comes back today, I will give him the third degree and get his license plate. I was also thinking along the lines as you guys here with the registration being in his name and a cleared check in my account for more than a few days. A few years back, I had a person send me a check for a jeep i had on a website, the check even fooled the back employees.

I do feel this situation is a little better as there was personal contact and not emails but you never know- I don't want to be the first victim of a brand new scam!

I will let you know the outcome later today!

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 3:35 pm

How about cash? Or a postal order? Or use your local high street lawyers as an escrow service? Or insist on taking photocopies of their driving license/passport with a recent utility bill to prove their address? etc...

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 3:39 pm

Provided you can verify that his money is good, the only other thing about it that bothers me is that one would expect it would be much cheaper to buy a boat in South Africa. Why buy it here and ship it?

You might want to look at listings for boat sales in South Africa and compare them to your asking price. If a similar craft is available there and the cost would be less, that's reason to suspect he is not being truthful.

Still, if he is being deceptive, whatever that signifies is beyond me to figure out. What illicit reason would someone have to lie about wanting to ship a boat overseas?

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 3:58 pm

Lehigh Guy wrote:

Still, if he is being deceptive, whatever that signifies is beyond me to figure out. What illicit reason would someone have to lie about wanting to ship a boat overseas?

I guess it's what's stuffed inside the hull that makes it worthwhile?

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:12 pm

I've never had a scammer turn up to inspect the goods. Whenever I have advertised cars for sale, a sure sign of a scammer is that he is willing to buy the car without seeing even a photo of it. That and the Nigerian Ip adress, of course.

It would be very unusual for a scammer to show up in person, and he didn't need to tell you the boat was going abroad, however odd that may sound, he could have told you he was going to use it locally.

You do right to act with caution, though.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 9:42 pm

I agree with lehigh guy. What's so special about your boat that makes the buyer want to ship it all the way to South Africa? Ask lots of questions. Try to find the answers to all your questions, and use your common sense. It doesn't have to be a scammer.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 10:06 pm

Maybe he is just saying he is shipping it to Africa to throw you off on his real motive to buy the boat.

Drug dealers are always on the lookout for older boats that would work to bring drugs in via water. Is it a boat that could be used for that and possibly not detected by the "drug hunters" with US Customs? Doesn't have to be the fastest boat like those cigar boats they used -- maybe something large enough that it might appear they are just out cruising on vacation or deep sea fishing.

Or possibly to smuggle illegals into the country or used in smuggling young girls in for sex trafficking.

My guess is that the boat is not going to be shipped to Africa.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 10:20 pm

Well, export issues export issues.

If the vessel/boat is greater than $2000USD and being exported to any country (other than Canada) or to Canada then to another country, a Shipper's Export Document (SED) must be filed. This will be verified by U.S. Customs and be subject to inspection as well (so a little bird told me Wink

). What they do with it after it is theirs and exported is of their concern and their concern alone.

If you, personally, do not wish to sell it to this person, based on your own perceptions, you are entitled not to sell it to them. There are no restrictions on who you do business with. If it will ease your mind that it will not be used for nefarious purposes by not selling it to him then don't.

Additionally, I would like to say no delivery until the check clears in my book. Especially if it is high value! If he doesn't like that business practice, again, tell him to get lost.

Remember you are the seller, the only one you have to please is yourself on the transaction.

Elite Baiter Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 1440

Personally, whenever I'm selling anything to a stranger, I take cash only.

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:44 am

Is your boat a registered US Vessel?

If so there will be some paperwork involving contacting the Coast Guard and having that registration removed from your boat.

I was involved in a boat purchase which involved registering the boat. There was a bit of paperwork involved with the Coast Guard.

If the boat is a US registered vessel and you are selling it you need to get the registration out of your name.

And take CASH.